Murray handed third world title shot

Martin Murray has been handed a third shot at a middleweight world title after it was confirmed he would fight Jarrod Fletcher for the vacant WBA belt on February 1.

Murray fought Felix Sturm for the WBA super-middleweight belt in 2011 in a bout deemed a draw, before he lost to Sergio Martinez by unanimous decision for the WBC crown in April this year.

The Brit was handed the shot after Gennady Golovkin was upgraded to WBA super champion. Golovkin is expected to headline the February card, which is set to take place in Monaco.

"I've been so close to winning a world title twice before and this could be third time lucky," Murray told the Daily Mail. "I know Fletcher's a good kid with a solid pedigree.

"Beating someone like James DeGale as an amateur proves he's good. I'm treating this deadly serious and you'll see the best of me on February 1. I want to create a bit of history because St Helens has never had a world champion before."

Murray saw off Sergey Khomitsky with a points win on his last outing at London's ExCel Arena on December 14.